Twelve-year-old Lily has lived with her emotionally distant oncologist stepfather and a succession of nannies since her mother died in a car accident two years ago. Nannies leave because of the difficulty of caring for Adam, Lily’s severely autistic 4-year-old half brother. The newest, Suzanne, seems promising, but Lily is tired of feeling like a planet orbiting the sun Adam. When she meets blind Zoe, who will attend the same private middle school as Lily in the fall, Lily’s happy to have a friend. However, Zoe’s take on the plight of the captive dolphin, Nori, used in Adam’s therapy opens Lily’s eyes. She knows she must use her influence over her stepfather, who is consulting on Nori’s treatment for cancer (caused by an oil spill), to free the animal. Lily’s got several fine lines to walk, as she works to hold onto her new friend, convince her stepfather of the rightness of releasing Nori, and do what’s best for Adam. In her newest exploration of animal-human relationships, Rorby’s lonely, mature heroine faces tough but realistic situations. Siblings of children on the spectrum will identify with Lily. If the tale flirts with sentimentality and some of the characters are strident in their views, the whole never feels maudlin or didactic. Overall, Dogs of the Deadlands is a magical tale of love, loss, loyalty, hope, survival, separation, and reconciliation. It not only teaches us a lot about the animal kingdom but also gives us deep insights into humanity. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. People who love dogs and tales of survival would especially enjoy this book. Book Details The answer to all these questions can be found in Anthony McGowan’s spellbinding novel, Dogs of the Deadlands. The award-winning author weaves a tale that is bound to tug at your heartstrings right from the beginning. His writing style is vivid and has a lyrical lilt to it. Each and every word seems to speak to you and make you feel like a character of the story. I was indeed moved by the intense descriptions of hunger and loss, love and loyalty. The travails of the animals, their desperate attempt to quench hunger, the fight to stay alive, and the intense battles with dangerous predators like lynxes, bears, and wolves keep you on the edge throughout the story. Add to that, a dash of romance, a pinch of deep friendships, and sacrificial familial loyalty, and you have yourself a winner. The beautiful sketches by Keith Robinson enliven the story even more.

Dogs of the Deadlands” by Anthony A Book Review by Kajori: “Dogs of the Deadlands” by Anthony

Natasha’s life is emotionally blighted by this loss, as we see in chapters interspersed with the heart of the story which is of how Zoya survives in this fierce, cold and terrifying landscape where it is not just predators she has to fear. She makes it in the wild, mating with a wolf and raising two cubs, Misha and the radiation damaged Bratan and when she is finally killed in a battle with a lynx the story becomes theirs. I loved the whole atmosphere of the Oxford Literary Festival. From breakfast, alongside some of the attendees, who were talking books with each other a mile a minute, to the public event at The Sheldonian where everyone was lively and engaged – I felt I had arrived in a kind of literary heaven. A stimulating and rewarding on-stage conversation; a lively informed and tolerant audience; privileged access to the great treasures of the Bodleian, and finally, wonderfully interesting dinner companions to help me conclude the best day I have enjoyed at any festival – anywhere. Her joy turns to heartbreak, however, when she is dragged from her bed in the middle of the night and evacuated to a safe place after a cataclysmic nuclear disaster: with her family but without her beloved puppy, Zoya.

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Will Zoya survive? If so, how will she make a life for herself in the wild? What about Natasha? How will her life be after losing everything including her beloved puppy? Will she ever be able to reunite with Zoya? Dogs of the Deadlands will not be for everyone, but for those who are willing to go on this journey, it will be well worth the reading. McGowan never lets up in the trauma either. Once one foe is dealt with, another soon comes upon our dogs. Your heart isn't allowed to relax, and the scenes of animal violence can be quite graphic at times.

Dogs of the Deadlands review — surviving Chernobyl

Such a sad story, based on the true events of Chernobyl, and the pets left behind when humans evacuated the area, leaving their dogs to either starve or survive in the savage wilds, alongside the wolves, bears and other occupants. I sped through this though, caught up in visually arresting scenes of destroyed forests, starving and brutalised animals but also comradeship and loyalty, love and trust. The night in Oxford was the most beautiful event I have ever done. Not just the spectacular setting (of the Sheldonian), but an unforgettable evening. The story then follows Zoya, who finds life in the woods, starts a family, and then we see her son and his journey. It is a book about struggle, some of it very harsh as Misha tries to survive. It’s also about coming home and making a life even in the midst of hard times. We also see Natasha grow up and become a focused and sullen scientist, but one with deep wounds. Those wounds can only heal if she can take a step outside of herself and build the relationships she desperately needs.

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The Oxford festival is the most elegant and atmospheric of literary festivals. It’s a pleasure to both attend and perform there. I came away buzzing and reassured that we still have in this century a wide ranging community fascinated not just by famous authors (I’ve rarely seen so many concentrated in one place) but by challenging ideas and questions. Growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan need to learn how to live wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers… Amidst the gore and trauma is a remarkable and intimate story of loyalty and love, resilience, survival and hope. As with any great animal story, there is a degree of anthropomorphism, as it’s hard not to see the dogs’ personalities through human characteristics but the wild behaviour of the animals is not sugar-coated though and comes across as very realistically animal in nature.

Dogs of the Deadlands: The Week Junior Book Awards 2023 Dogs of the Deadlands: The Week Junior Book Awards 2023

And it certainly didn’t disappoint.The book is pretty epic in its timespan and follows two stories; that of human girl Natasha, who is forced to flee the devastation of Chernobyl and that of her pup, Zoya, and the other dogs that are left behind. The inhuman and human perspectives on the tragic tale come full circle in a bittersweet way. The sense of place is excellent, the characterisation perfect, and the plot is an utterly compulsive cover-to-cover. It has many twists and turns; some chapters are nail-biting, some will make you smile, and some will give you tears. Keith Robinson's illustrations are beautiful, making you want to imitate the “awww factor” once you see those adorable dogs.With ever-present threats from wolf, bear and lynx, much of the action is visceral and bloody, reflecting lives lived on the edge where life and death choices are a daily challenge. Dogs of the deadlands'' by Anthony mcgowan is a sophisticated children's/YA book . Sophisticated because it weaves into the format of narrative some very fascinating evolutionary trajectories , especially of wolves and dogs. Separated from her puppy Zoya on her birthday due to the chernobyl nuclear disaster , Natasha , who later assumes the name of Nataliya, carries the imprint of this severing. But Zoya, having by chance mated with a wolf, gives birth to two wolf dogs, Misha and Bratan . And it is their adventures that constitute the novel. This book’s strengths come in the tales of camaraderie and survival among the dogs and wolves, culminating regularly in small skirmishes and epic standoffs. The author spares no one harm, so the reader is kept in suspense to see whether their favorite dogs will make it through. Another strength is its setting; I read this in the summer in the US Midwest, but certainly you can feel the cold USSR (note: Chernobyl is in modern Ukraine) and its forests, including the area around Chernobyl, whose wildlife have had to adapt to more than just predators. There are also multiple coming-of-age stories within the main thread, done fairly well, especially as the dogs are concerned. Another strength is the sheer ambition of writing such a story, and the amount of research that likely went into both the area and the nature of dogs and wolves (and other wildlife). I feel like I know a lot more about my own dog after reading about Misha and the others! Anthony McGowan has managed to capture a really pure type of animal communication here; the whole thing just works so well with the description and the simple inference of what's meant. The highs and lows have you celebrating and mourning in turn and it feels perfectly wrapped up. As much as I'd like to read more about Misha's later years the book just works with what's contained within it. Suspension of disbelief does come into play a little but honestly, I'm all there for it. It's a little like junior magical realism? It's perfect for me as I like to see hope overcome all the odds. He would grumble about the decline and fall of the old Soviet Union. "Once the people were in charge. Now only oligarchs. Billionaires. Thieves," he would mutter." - This example. so much wrong in these two sentences. While I don't want to go down the road explaining the history in this review... and while some people in occupied countries might have thought (or still think), this is absolutely disgusting message to send to the kids. If the story is meant and aimed for adults, or young adults and the author feels the need to include politics (which is not bad thing per se), some knowledge of the era, country and its history would be beneficial.

Dogs of the Deadlands – Books For Keeps Dogs of the Deadlands – Books For Keeps

Dogs are a man’s best friend. However, what happens when there are no men available for a dog to befriend? Do they survive and if they do then how? Conversely, what happens to a person who is compelled to lose their dog, their best friend? Chernobyl, 1986. The world is coming to an end. Dragged from her bed in the middle of the night, Natasha is forced to leave her beloved puppy behind and has no idea if she’ll ever return home. I'm hoping McGowan has a comic or light-hearted book lined up for us next, I'm sure he needs it as much as we do! This was a real emotional read and I admit to shedding a tear or two in a few places. The relationships between both humans and dogs, and dogs and other animals is beautifully written. I particularly loved the bond between brothers Misha and Bratan.

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Ultimately, it’s quite an adventure story and unique when it comes to dog stories. I salute McGowan’s efforts to create an exciting, realistic, and heartfelt story that keeps the reader guessing and gasping! I would certainly recommend for 10 and up, with some content advisory involving (natural but graphic) violence among animals. It certainly earns its place among the more engrossing animal adventures. It’s great to see these kids “so enthusiastic about committing high treason.” (historical note) (Historical fiction. 10-12) Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan is one of those books that is both savage and beautiful and I have no doubt will stay with me for a long time. The story begins on Natasha’s birthday where she gets the most amazing present of all: a little Samoyed puppy that she names Zoya. But disaster soon tears Natasha away from her puppy as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant’s reactor number 4 explodes and Natasha and her family must evacuate and leave everything behind, including Zoya. Weaknesses: I'm not much for narratives told from a dog's perspective, and I somehow missed where Misha was the son of Zoya. After the whole regurgitated worm thing, I found it a little hard to concentrate.